How is the Caribbean positioning itself for global digital leadership? In our latest episode of the ICT Pulse Podcast, we sit down with Rodney Taylor, the Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), to preview the upcoming CTU ICT Week 2026 in French Guiana. During our conversation, the Secretary General breaks down: the importance of CTU ICT Week; the role satellite networks and space tech can play in non-disaster situations; the need for the Caribbean to speak with a unifying voice ahead of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in November 2026; and the single biggest takeaway he wants attendees of CTU ICT Week 2026 to leave with.

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

As the Caribbean’s digital landscape rapidly evolves, the line between country-level connectivity and global tech integration is vanishing; but to be effective in leveraging the opportunities that can be realised, we must be intentional and suitably equipped to ensure that our citizens and wider society indeed benefit. Moreover, it is crucial that we, as individual countries, collaborate and take common positions on key issues to amplify our voice (and clout) on the global stage.

The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) ICT Week 2026 is an important event in the region’s calendar, as it brings together primary policymakers, regulators, and tech leaders to debate the strategic direction of the Caribbean region. Convening in Cayenne, French Guiana, from 20 to 24 September 2026, and hosted in partnership with the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane under the theme “Advancing Resilience, Inclusion, Cybersecurity, and Innovation in Caribbean Digital Development,” this year’s summit bridges continental South America with the wider Caribbean to tackle our most pressing policy hurdles. 

From last-mile connectivity and regional AI governance to the key policy opinions/outcomes from the recently held World Telecommunications Policy Forum and unifying the region’s voice ahead of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) in November, the stakes for cross-border collaboration have never been higher. In this episode of the ICT Pulse Podcast, we sit down with Rodney Taylor, Secretary General of the CTU, to unpack what to expect from CTU ICT Week 2026, including high-level ministerial sessions, targeted tracks for women, persons with disabilities, and youth in tech, and a milestone visit to the European Space Agency’s Guiana Space Centre. 

 

Introducing our guest

Secretary General Rodney Taylor

Rodney Taylor is the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). Prior to this appointment, he held senior positions in the Government of Barbados, serving as the Chief Digital Technology Officer at Barbados’ Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST), where he led the nation’s digital transformation, focusing on enhancing public sector service delivery through strategic innovation, science, and SMART technology applications. Additionally, he served as the Head of the Information Systems Unit at Barbados’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, where he oversaw operations at both local and overseas missions.

With over 30 years of professional experience in the Public Sector, Secretary-General Taylor currently supports collaboration amongst Caribbean Governments and other ICT Stakeholders in shaping regional ICT policies and in the implementation of national digital transformation strategies. He currently chairs the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Informal Expert Group for the World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum 2026 (IEG-WTPF).  He is also a member of the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience, which was established by the ITU in partnership with the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) in November 2024.

 

Insight into our conversation

The annual CTU ICT Week is the flagship event of the CTU and can be considered a time of consolidation—to distil all the discussions, policies and initiatives that occurred since the last ICT Week—and to attend to the administrative and governance requirements of the organisation, through its Executive Council and the General Conference of Ministers.

In hosting this year’s CTU ICT Week in French Guiana, the newest member of the CTU, there is an opportunity to continue to break down the barriers and silos that exist between Caribbean countries. In addition to experiencing the host country, its history, culture and ICT sector, event attendees will be able to visit the European Space Agency’s Guiana Space Centre located in French Guiana, which offers considerable scope for learning, engagement and potentially, future collaboration.

Below are some of the questions to the Secretary-General during our conversation.

  1. For those who are not familiar, how would you describe CTU’s ICT Week?
  2. CTU ICT Week 2026 is hosted in French Guiana in partnership with the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane. French Guiana recently became a member of the CTU. Why was it important to host the event there?
  3. This year’s theme focuses on “Advancing Resilience, Inclusion, Cybersecurity, and Innovation in Caribbean Digital Development.” With climate vulnerabilities and rising cyber threats facing the region, which of these four pillars requires the most urgent policy intervention from member states?
  4. The event includes a visit to the European Space Agency’s Guiana Space Centre in Kourou. Beyond Starlink and Amazon LEO, what role do satellite technology and non-terrestrial networks play in solving the Caribbean’s disaster-resilience challenges?
  5. Universal meaningful connectivity remains a hurdle across many SIDS and developing countries. What tangible frameworks or outcomes do you expect from the 24th Strategic ICT Ministerial Seminar to move beyond policy talk into execution?
  6. ICT Week 2026 serves as a key regional milestone/convening session ahead of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) in November. What is this conference about and why is it important?
  7. Emerging technologies like generative AI and local data governance are highlighted on the agenda. How can smaller Caribbean economies harness AI responsibly without creating wider digital divides?
  8. The agenda features targeted tracks like the Network of Women Leadership Seminar, ICT for Persons with Disabilities (ICT4PWDs), and Youth initiatives. How is the CTU ensuring these tracks lead to measurable policy changes rather than remaining isolated discussions?
  9. If a listener—whether a tech entrepreneur, regulator, or curious citizen—attends or tunes in to CTU ICT Week 2026, what is the single biggest takeaway you want them to leave with?

 

We would love to hear your thoughts!

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Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  CTU; 정훈 김 (Pixabay);  CTU;  Magnific (Magnific)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez